The Prodigals and Their Inheritance

Chapter VI

Chapter 6 of The Prodigals and Their Inheritance is here in full — 165 sentences across 33 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

By Mrs. (Margaret) Oliphant • Curated US English Learning Edition

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He led her back into the park, which she had been coming out of, scarcely knowing where she wandered.

As was his way when they were beyond the reach of curious eyes, he took her arm instead of offering her his.

There was something more caressing, more close in this manner of contact.

When they were safe beyond all interruption, he bent over her tenderly.

Narrator

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AI-generated narration by OpenAI · Slow US English

LEARNER DICTIONARY

Archivist

/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/

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A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.

Chapter VI Reading 1/33

The Prodigals and Their Inheritance Mrs. (Margaret) Oliphant

Chapter VI

Chapter 6 of The Prodigals and Their Inheritance is here in full — 165 sentences across 33 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

It was scarcely in nature that the appearance of her betrothed, coming so suddenly in the midst of her thoughts, should be disagreeable to Winifred, but it was an embarrassment to her, and rather added to than lessened the trouble on her mind. He led her back into the park, which she had been coming out of, scarcely knowing where she wandered. As was his way when they were beyond the reach of curious eyes, he took her arm instead of offering her his. There was something more caressing, more close in this manner of contact. When they were safe beyond all interruption, he bent over her tenderly.

The Prodigals and Their Inheritance

Chapter VI

Chapter 6 of The Prodigals and Their Inheritance is here in full — 165 sentences across 33 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/33 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1

Line 2

He led her back into the park, which she had been coming out of, scarcely knowing where she wandered.

/hiː led hɜːr bæk ˈɪntuː ðə pɑːrk wɪtʃ ʃiː hæd bɪn ˈkʌmɪŋ aʊt ʌv ˈskersli ˈnoʊɪŋ wer ʃiː ˈwɑːndərd/

Line 3

As was his way when they were beyond the reach of curious eyes, he took her arm instead of offering her his.

/æz wɑːz hɪz weɪ wen ðeɪ wɜːr bɪˈɑːnd ðə riːtʃ ʌv ˈkjʊriəs aɪz hiː tʊk hɜːr ɑːrm ˌɪnˈsted ʌv ˈɔːfərɪŋ hɜːr hɪz/

Line 4

There was something more caressing, more close in this manner of contact.

/ðer wɑːz ˈsʌmθɪŋ mɔːr kərˈesɪŋ mɔːr kloʊs ɪn ðɪs ˈmænər ʌv ˈkɑːntækt/

Line 5

When they were safe beyond all interruption, he bent over her tenderly.

/wen ðeɪ wɜːr seɪf bɪˈɑːnd ɔːl ˌɪntərˈʌpʃən hiː bent ˈoʊvər hɜːr ˈtendərli/

Learner Dictionary

These definitions explain words found in the current reading and keep every example grounded in its original sentence.

Oxford-style entry order: headword, part of speech, US IPA, concise definition, contextual example, and audio.

caressing noun US /kərˈesɪŋ/

affectionate play (or foreplay without contact with the genital organs)

From this reading “There was something more caressing, more close in this manner of contact.”

contact noun US /ˈkɑːntækt/

close interaction

From this reading “There was something more caressing, more close in this manner of contact.”

disagreeable adjective US /ˌdɪsəˈɡriːəbəl/

not to your liking

From this reading “It was scarcely in nature that the appearance of her betrothed, coming so suddenly in the midst of her thoughts, should be disagreeable to Winifred, but it was an embarrassment to her, and rather added to than lessened the trouble on her mind.”

embarrassment noun US /ɪmˈberəsmənt/

the shame you feel when your inadequacy or guilt is made public

interruption noun US /ˌɪntərˈʌpʃən/

an act of delaying or interrupting the continuity

From this reading “When they were safe beyond all interruption, he bent over her tenderly.”

lessened adjective US /ˈlesənd/

impaired by diminution

offering noun US /ˈɔːfərɪŋ/

something offered (as a proposal or bid)

From this reading “As was his way when they were beyond the reach of curious eyes, he took her arm instead of offering her his.”

tenderly adverb US /ˈtendərli/

with tenderness; in a tender manner

From this reading “When they were safe beyond all interruption, he bent over her tenderly.”

Word partnerships in these lines

English keeps certain words together, and knowing the pair is worth more than knowing each word alone. Every partnership below was counted across our whole published library, and earns its place by appearing far more often than two unrelated words of the same frequency would.

Shown as this reading writes them, with the form the library counts, what kind of pairing it is, and how often it occurs.

scarcely knowing adverb + adjective

In this reading “He led her back into the park, which she had been coming out of, scarcely knowing where she wandered.”

in the midst preposition + article + noun counted as “in … midst”

the middle or central part or point

In this reading “It was scarcely in nature that the appearance of her betrothed, coming so suddenly in the midst of her thoughts, should be disagreeable to Winifred, but it was an embarrassment to her, and rather added to than lessened the trouble on her mind.”

All words in this reading · 73

Every word in these five lines is listed here, and every one of them can be played on its own.

Dictionary details are shown only when verified; these are not licensed Oxford entries.

addedverbUS /ˈædəd/

past form of “add” — make an addition (to); join or combine or unite with others; increase the quality, quantity, size or scope of

From this reading It was scarcely in nature that the appearance of her betrothed, coming so suddenly in the midst of her thoughts, should be disagreeable to Winifred, but it was an embarrassment to her, and rather added to than lessened the trouble on her mind.

alladjectiveUS /ɔːl/

(quantifier) used with either mass or count nouns to indicate the whole number or amount of or every one of a class

From this reading When they were safe beyond all interruption, he bent over her tenderly.

andeterminerUS /æn/

the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together

appearancenounUS /əˈpɪrəns/

outward or visible aspect of a person or thing

armnounUS /ɑːrm/

a human limb; technically the part of the superior limb between the shoulder and the elbow but commonly used to refer to the whole superior limb

From this reading As was his way when they were beyond the reach of curious eyes, he took her arm instead of offering her his.

AsconjunctionUS /æz/

at the same time that; because; in the way that

From this reading As was his way when they were beyond the reach of curious eyes, he took her arm instead of offering her his.

backadverbUS /bæk/

in or to or toward a former location

From this reading He led her back into the park, which she had been coming out of, scarcely knowing where she wandered.

beauxiliary verbUS /biː/

used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses

beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading He led her back into the park, which she had been coming out of, scarcely knowing where she wandered.

bentnounUS /bent/

a relatively permanent inclination to react in a particular way

From this reading When they were safe beyond all interruption, he bent over her tenderly.

betrothedadjective

pledged to be married

beyondprepositionUS /bɪˈɑːnd/

on the far side of; further than

From this reading As was his way when they were beyond the reach of curious eyes, he took her arm instead of offering her his.

butconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

caressingnounUS /kərˈesɪŋ/

affectionate play (or foreplay without contact with the genital organs)

From this reading There was something more caressing, more close in this manner of contact.

closeadjectiveUS /kloʊs/

at or within a short distance in space or time or having elements near each other

From this reading There was something more caressing, more close in this manner of contact.

comingnounUS /ˈkʌmɪŋ/

the act of drawing spatially closer to something

contactnounUS /ˈkɑːntækt/

close interaction

From this reading There was something more caressing, more close in this manner of contact.

curiousadjectiveUS /ˈkjʊriəs/

beyond or deviating from the usual or expected

From this reading As was his way when they were beyond the reach of curious eyes, he took her arm instead of offering her his.

disagreeableadjectiveUS /ˌdɪsəˈɡriːəbəl/

not to your liking

embarrassmentnounUS /ɪmˈberəsmənt/

the shame you feel when your inadequacy or guilt is made public

eyesnounUS /aɪz/

opinion or judgment

From this reading As was his way when they were beyond the reach of curious eyes, he took her arm instead of offering her his.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect

From this reading He led her back into the park, which she had been coming out of, scarcely knowing where she wandered.

HepronounUS /hiː/

a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading He led her back into the park, which she had been coming out of, scarcely knowing where she wandered.

herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/

belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned

From this reading As was his way when they were beyond the reach of curious eyes, he took her arm instead of offering her his.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

inside something, or within a place, period, or state

insteadadverbUS /ˌɪnˈsted/

in place of, or as an alternative to

From this reading As was his way when they were beyond the reach of curious eyes, he took her arm instead of offering her his.

interruptionnounUS /ˌɪntərˈʌpʃən/

an act of delaying or interrupting the continuity

From this reading When they were safe beyond all interruption, he bent over her tenderly.

intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/

moving to the inside of something

From this reading He led her back into the park, which she had been coming out of, scarcely knowing where she wandered.

ItpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

knowingadjectiveUS /ˈnoʊɪŋ/

evidencing the possession of inside information

From this reading He led her back into the park, which she had been coming out of, scarcely knowing where she wandered.

lednounUS /led/

diode such that light emitted at a p-n junction is proportional to the bias current; color depends on the material used

From this reading He led her back into the park, which she had been coming out of, scarcely knowing where she wandered.

lessenedadjectiveUS /ˈlesənd/

impaired by diminution

mannernounUS /ˈmænər/

how something is done or how it happens

From this reading There was something more caressing, more close in this manner of contact.

midstnounUS /mɪdst/

the location of something surrounded by other things

mindnounUS /maɪnd/

The element of a person that enables awareness and thought.

moreadjectiveUS /mɔːr/

(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree

From this reading There was something more caressing, more close in this manner of contact.

naturenounUS /ˈneɪtʃər/

the essential qualities or characteristics by which something is recognized

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

offeringnounUS /ˈɔːfərɪŋ/

something offered (as a proposal or bid)

From this reading As was his way when they were beyond the reach of curious eyes, he took her arm instead of offering her his.

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

outadjectiveUS /aʊt/

not allowed to continue to bat or run

From this reading He led her back into the park, which she had been coming out of, scarcely knowing where she wandered.

overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/

above and across; more than

From this reading When they were safe beyond all interruption, he bent over her tenderly.

parknounUS /pɑːrk/

a large area of land preserved in its natural state as public property

From this reading He led her back into the park, which she had been coming out of, scarcely knowing where she wandered.

ratheradverbUS /ˈræðər/

on the contrary

reachverbUS /riːtʃ/

reach a destination, either real or abstract

From this reading As was his way when they were beyond the reach of curious eyes, he took her arm instead of offering her his.

safeadjectiveUS /seɪf/

free from danger or the risk of harm

From this reading When they were safe beyond all interruption, he bent over her tenderly.

scarcelyadverbUS /ˈskersli/

only a very short time before

shepronounUS /ʃiː/

a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading He led her back into the park, which she had been coming out of, scarcely knowing where she wandered.

shouldmodal verbUS /ʃʊd/

used to say what is right, expected, or advisable

soconjunctionUS /soʊ/

for that reason; with the result that

somethingpronounUS /ˈsʌmθɪŋ/

a thing, without saying which

From this reading There was something more caressing, more close in this manner of contact.

suddenlyadverbUS /ˈsʌdənli/

happening unexpectedly

tenderlyadverbUS /ˈtendərli/

with tenderness; in a tender manner

From this reading When they were safe beyond all interruption, he bent over her tenderly.

thanconjunctionUS /ðæn/

used to introduce the second part of a comparison

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind

ThereadverbUS /ðer/

in or at that place or location

From this reading There was something more caressing, more close in this manner of contact.

theypronounUS /ðeɪ/

the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading As was his way when they were beyond the reach of curious eyes, he took her arm instead of offering her his.

thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/

used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned

From this reading There was something more caressing, more close in this manner of contact.

thoughtsnounUS /θɔːts/

plural of “thought” — the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about

toparticleUS /tuː/

used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive

tookverbUS /tʊk/

inflected form of “take” — carry out

From this reading As was his way when they were beyond the reach of curious eyes, he took her arm instead of offering her his.

troublenounUS /ˈtrʌbəl/

a source of difficulty

wanderedverbUS /ˈwɑːndərd/

past form of “wander” — move about aimlessly or without any destination, often in search of food or employment

From this reading He led her back into the park, which she had been coming out of, scarcely knowing where she wandered.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun

waynounUS /weɪ/

how something is done or how it happens

From this reading As was his way when they were beyond the reach of curious eyes, he took her arm instead of offering her his.

wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/

the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun

From this reading As was his way when they were beyond the reach of curious eyes, he took her arm instead of offering her his.

whenconjunctionUS /wen/

at the time that

From this reading As was his way when they were beyond the reach of curious eyes, he took her arm instead of offering her his.

whereconjunctionUS /wer/

in or at the place that

From this reading He led her back into the park, which she had been coming out of, scarcely knowing where she wandered.

whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned

From this reading He led her back into the park, which she had been coming out of, scarcely knowing where she wandered.

Winifred

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

Chapter 6 of The Prodigals and Their Inheritance by Mrs. (Margaret) Oliphant holds 165 sentences, grouped into 33 reading sections of at most 5 sentences. The text is the source edition, unabridged, and the chapter records which sentences cover which part of the work so that nothing is dropped. Every word can be tapped for its pronunciation and dictionary entry.

What does chapter 6 of The Prodigals and Their Inheritance contain?

Chapter 6 holds 165 sentences of The Prodigals and Their Inheritance, unabridged, divided into 33 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 6 of The Prodigals and Their Inheritance by Mrs. (Margaret) Oliphant exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 165 sentences, grouped into 33 sections of at most 5 sentences so that a reader can take the chapter in steady, finishable pieces. The chapter also stores a coverage record mapping every one of its sentences to a part of the work, which is how the edition demonstrates that no line was dropped.

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Project Gutenberg eBook #62464, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

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About 119 minutes of reading across 287 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

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Vocabulary met early in The Prodigals and Their Inheritance

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Chapter VI

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